Ohio Mother of 16 Children Faces New Charges After Children Found in Deplorable Home
A 33-year-old Ohio mother is being charged with more crimes after 16 children were discovered living in “deplorable conditions” at a Vinton County home.
On Wednesday, 16 September, Elizabeth Siders made her first appearance in court on new charges of unlawful sexual conduct with a child and sexual battery. She was already charged with 16 counts of child endangering with the children’s father, Gary Siders Jr., and their grandparents, Gary Siders Sr. and Christina Siders.
The charges come after the children were found at the property on 30 June. The children, aged from 17 months to 18 years, were said to have been discovered alone in a room that was about 12 by 12 feet, and some of them were said to have been there for years. Some of the children were also reported as not being able to speak, it was said.
The court raised Siders’ bond by $250,000, to a total of $550,000.
Her attorney Thomas Stolly said after the hearing that he had questions about Siders’ understanding of the legal ramifications of the charges against her. He stated that he had raised competency issues when he spoke with his client about the serious felony allegations.
Gary Siders Sr., the children’s grandfather, has been recently found incompetent to stand trial.
The case has highlighted serious concerns for the safeguarding of children in relation to the conditions in which the children were living and the systems that were supposed to safeguard children from prolonged neglect and abuse.
The children are from infancy to adulthood and authorities have not released any other information about their current situation.
